The poignant last days of Welsh rugby hero Ray Gravell as he battled to recover from diabetes are to be shown in an unfinished documentary abandoned after his death.

The poignant last days of Welsh rugby hero Ray Gravell as he battled to recover from diabetes are to be shown in an unfinished documentary abandoned after his death.

The documentary makers behind Grav: Sdim Cywilydd Mewn Llefain (There’s No Shame in Crying) followed the Welsh Grand Slam winner and broadcaster in the summer of 2007 with the aim of charting his recovery.

But when he died of a heart attack on holiday in Spain on October 31, 2007, the programme was shelved.

Now, the much-loved rugby star’s wife Mari has given permission for it to be broadcast on S4C on New Year’s Day in order to raise awareness of diabetes.

The programme features Gravell taking his first steps on his prosthetic right leg after having it amputated below the knee because of his diabetes in April 2007.

Gravell’s widow says before his heart attack the programme aided her husband’s recovery because he believed it would help improve understanding of diabetes.

“It was a terribly difficult time, but it was something that Ray wanted to do,” she said. “It was therapeutic for him. He was doing something positive in a difficult situation.

“Of course there were times when he was very low. But somehow, talking about things made him feel better.

“For the whole family of course it was a difficult time, but we were lucky that we got along well with the film crew, and we are glad that we did it now.”

The documentary captures the former BBC Radio Cymru host’s happiness at getting behind the wheel of a car again for the first time when he feels he’s regaining his independence.

It also shows him in more private moments with family and close friends, looking forward to the future after his operation.

Among them are his 56th birthday celebrations in September 2007.

The camera crew also followed Carmarthenshire-born Gravell as he toured some of the key events in the Welsh calendar during the summer of 2007.

It shows the enormous public affection and goodwill for the rugby legend when he turned up at events like the Urdd and the National Eisteddfodau while recovering from losing his leg.

At the time, as well as his own show on Radio Cymru, Gravell was working as a TV presenter, was also an accomplished actor and carried the ceremonial sword of the Gorsedd.

One of the prominent locations in the programme is Borth, in Ceredigion, where the camera crew join the family in October 2007 as they visit close friends John Hefin and his wife Elin. The family suffered another blow recently when John died last month.

Mari added: “It's so sad that we have now lost John so recently too.

“Ray and John were like brothers, friends since the early ‘70s, and he’d been so supportive.

“We’re one big family, really, and that comes across in the programme.

“The girls had a lot of fun and fond memories of holidays in Borth, and they'll continue of course, but things won’t be the same now.”

Just a few weeks after his visit to Borth Gravell, who won 23 Welsh caps and made his name playing for his beloved Llanelli, died in Spain.

His wife and the couple’ s daughters Gwenan and Manon decided the time is now right for the programme to be shown.

“We had such a shock, the time we went to the hospital for the artificial leg.

“There were so many people having the same sort of treatment, and so many local people too. Diabetes seems to be on the increase, and hitting a lot of middle-aged people.

“I think people are starting to think more about the impact of the disease - there’s more publicity around about it now.

“When Ray had the illness we never thought it would lead to him losing his leg. We need to raise awareness.

“That’s why it’s right to broadcast the programme now. That’s what we need to get across.”

:: Grav: Sdim Cywilydd Mewn Llefain will be broadcast on S4C on New Year’s Day

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